Back when my boys and I lived in Lumsden, I had a stash of emergency supplies in the basement that included non-perishable food, bottled water, a flashlight, batteries, candles and a few other essentials just in case of an emergency.

But when we moved to an apartment in another city, then a townhouse and then another townhouse, my emergency kit ended up disassembled and in disarray. Sure, we have canned goods in the house, a few bottles of water by the door and a flashlight stuffed in a drawer of junk. But in case of an emergency, I no longer have my easy-to-grab kit full of every essential my family might need.

And I’m not alone! Even though it’s recommended that families keep an kit ready to get them through a 72-hour emergency if needed, only 34% of Canadians have such an emergency kit in their home. But if you’re like me and don’t currently have an emergency kit, there’s no better time to remedy that than right now!

May 7th to the 13th is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada, and Duracell has teamed up with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs to help raise awareness about the importance of being ready for an emergency. Check out these three tips to help ensure your family knows what to do in an unexpected situation! [Read more…]

One of the hardest moments my grandmother had before passing away was admitting that she finally couldn’t live alone in her home anymore. She had lived in the same house since first moving to Brooks, Alberta. And even though she was in her mid-nineties and my grandfather had passed away years ago, she had remained in that house ever since and had no desire to leave it. She was lucky to have a boarder living with her in later years that helped her a great deal and a home care nurse that visited a few times a week to assist her with simple tasks, but we still worried about her living alone.

With so many members of the population reaching twilight years, senior safety is an important topic right now. And if your parents or grandparents are living unassisted, taking a few simple steps to ensure the house is safe just makes sense! Get started with these three steps: [Read more…]

When I was young, the basement in our house once flooded quite badly. I don’t remember all the details but I do remember that so many important things were ruined, from personal documents to papers from my parent’s law practice to cherished memorabilia. For years after that, if we needed something and couldn’t find it, the assumption was that it had been destroyed when the basement flooded.

That event really helps me understand now, as an adult, why it’s so important to protect valuable and important items from the unexpected. A flood is only one of the risks that can threaten a house and I want to know that our most cherished possessions are safe from harm no matter what. So I was thrilled when I was given the chance to review the SentrySafe Alarm Safe.

This digital safe has all the features I wanted to help keep important items safe. It’s been tested to survive in a fire of up to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit for up to one hour and is verified water resistant for up to 24 hours in as much as eight inches of water. But that’s just the start of what makes this safe such a perfect choice for a family! [Read more…]

October is Fire Prevention Month and it’s such an important time to make sure that your family is protected and prepared in case of a fire. It’s no secret to most people that having working fire alarms in the home is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your family’s safety in an emergency, but many people still tend to forget to check those alarms regularly and replace them periodically when needed.

First Alert, Canada’s most trusted and recognized fire safety brand, wants to ensure that Canadian families stay safe all year, and this month First Alert is making that even easier with the release of the new First Alert ATOM Smoke Alarm this month. The alarm uses micro technology to provide maximum protection in a small and sleek design. In fact, the ATOM Smoke Alarm is no bigger than a votive candle, which means it’s the perfect alarm for discreetly protecting your stylish home without spoiling the look of your décor!